Paul Sylbert

Biography

Paul Sylbert (April 16, 1928 – November 19, 2016) was an American production designer, art director, writer and occasional director. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he attended the Tyler School of Art at Temple University and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War alongside his identical twin brother, production designer Richard Sylbert, with whom he worked early on Baby Doll and A Face in the Crowd. He shared the Academy Award for Best Art Direction for Heaven Can Wait and received another nomination for The Prince of Tides. His production design credits include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Kramer vs. Kramer, Hardcore, Wolfen, Brian De Palma's Blow Out, Gorky Park, Ishtar, Biloxi Blues, Sliver and Conspiracy Theory. He directed the comedy The Steagle, wrote the book Final Cut about its making, and later taught film at Temple University.